Self-leveling table.



No. 843,371. l PATENTED PEB. 5, 1907..

' Q. MaK. SIMPSON.

SELF LBVELING TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED sBPT.1s.1ao6.

QUEEN MCK. SIMPSON, OF LAWRENCE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING TABLIL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed September 13, 1906. Serial No. 334.536.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, QUEEN MoK. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Levelin Tables, of which the following is' a specication, reference `being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to that type known as selfbalancing tables, designed for use upon vessels, trains, and moving bodies.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a table wherein positive and reliable means are employed for maintaining a tabletop level irrespective of t 1e inclination of lits support or base.

Another object of this invention is t0 provide novel means for normally holding a table-top in a fixed position, said means being sufliciently flexible to allow the table-top to partially rotate.

A further object of my invention is to provide a table of the above-mentioned type `that can be locked in a stationary position.

. A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive balancingtable which will be strong and durable and free from injury by ordinary use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as theinvention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out 1n the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specilication, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the table in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, illustrating the support or base at an inclination to the table-top. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the same, illustrating a slight modication. Fig. 4 is a detail sect1onal view of a portion of my irnproved table; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the table, illustrating the stationary locking means.

To put my invention into practice, I construct my improved table of legs 1, 'connected together by a plate 2 and supported upon a floor or base 3. The plate 2 is provided with a central opening 4, surrounded by an -annular exteriorly-screw-threaded iiange 5, having a ball-race 6. In the race 6 are mounted a plurality of bearing-balls 7, which support a depending semispherical block S, carried by a table-top 9. The block 8 is'provided with a depending stem l0, having its lower end threaded, as at 11, to receive a cage 11a for a spherical body or weight 12.

The cage 11a is constructed of malleable metal, whereby it may be bent to partially surround the `spherical body or weight 12 and retain the same in a revoluble position. The cage 11`a consists of a vertically-disposed frame 12, carrying a collar 12?, which surrounds the depending threaded stem 10. Upon the lower end of' the stem is mounted a nut 12C, and interposed between said nut and the collar 12b is a coiled spring 12d, said spring surroundin the threaded stem 10. The spring 12d 1s adapted to cushion the spherical bodyA or weight 12 upon the end of the stem.

To retain the bearing-balls 7 within the race when the plate 2 or the base 3 is tilted, I provide the annular flange 5 with a detachable gland 14, adapted to lie over the balls 7 and retain said balls in their race.

The manner of maintaining thetable-top 9 upon the plate 2 permits of said top rotating, and to normally maintain said top in a fixedposition I provide the table-top 9 with dew pending eyelets 15, to which are connected cords or cables 16, said cables passing throu h diametrically-disposed eyelets 17, carrie by the edges ot' the plate 2. The ends of the cables 16 upon each side of the table are connected to compensating springs 18, at-

tached to the floor or base 3. The springs 1S are of a conventional form adapted to normally maintain the cables 16 in a taut condition.

In order that the table-top can be held ystationary with respect to the floor or base 3,

IOO

When the table-top islccked in a y sides in the cables and springs -employedfor preventing the table-top from rotating, also the means for holding said top stationary.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have illustrated a slight modiication in the means for preventing the table-tcp from4 rotating. In lieu of the cables 16 and springs 19 I employ springs 21, which are secured to eyelets 15a,

vcarried by the table-top, and eyelets 17 a, carried by the diametrically-disposed edges 22 of the plate 2.

The operation of my improved table when carried by a moving body, such as a vessel, is obvious, and I Wish it to be understood that such changes in the details ofconstruction as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters. Patent, is-

1. In a table, the combination with legs supported by a base, of a plate connecting said legs and having a'central opening, an annular ange surrounding said opening and 4having a ball-race formed therein, balls mounted in saidrace,` a gland mounted upon said ilange, a semispherical block mounted upon lsaid b alls and having a depending stem, a table-top supported by said block, a

Weight adjustably mounted upon said stem,

said base having a c oncavity Jformed therein. to receive saldv Welght cables connected to said table-top, andsprings carried by said base and connecting With said cables, and means to temporarily hold said Wei' ht in the ooncavityA of said base, substantia ly as described. Y

2. In a table, the combination with a base, of a plate supported above said base and having a central opening formed therein, ballbearings surrounding said opening, a block restin carried by said block, a Wei ht adjustably supported by said block, cablges attached to said table-top, springs carried by said base and ccnneotin with said cables, and 'means including said ase for'hclding said table-top stationary, substantially as described..

upon said ball-bearings, a table-top 3. In a self-leveling table, the combination with a supporting member, of table-legs attached to said supporting member, a plate connecting said legs at their upper endsand provided With a ball-race, a table-top, av

semispherical bearing-b1ock secured to the table-top and-resting on said antifrictionballs, a depending threaded stem carried by said semispherical bearing-block, a` cage mounted for vertical movement on the stern, a Weight carried by' said cage, a spring mounted on the stem and acting against the cage to normally hold the cage elevated and the Weight out of engagement with the suporting member and means for compressing said sprmg to loWer the cage and Weight to engage the latter With the supporting member.

'In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

QUEEN MCK. srMPsoN.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. MOORE,

J. F. MoNAY. 

